continued...
"Hopefully that gives you perspective of why it is hard for out of state guys to find much appreciation for the efforts of SFW. And, why MT and ID hunters have taken an interest in what SFW is doing in UT, as that is their funding source for work in other states. Why someone like me, who has been involved in wolf politics since 1994, takes serious issue with SFW trying to kill our best delisting option in fifteen years. Why it causes me, and others to spend more time finding out how SFW is funded and how we can communicate with more people as to what went down.
Put yourself in the shoes of an AZ hunter who has spent the last three months fighting the AZSFW proposal that is a copy of the UT model, except it asks for 100+ more raffle tags. AZ hunters have worked tirelessly to create some amazing habitat in marginal country, building an elk herd that is cherished. They wait years for a tag.
Now, along comes the derivative of the UT model, with the same cast of characters advising and starting the group. It is done in backroom deals in the cloak of darkness. Though UT SFW tries to disassociate when it starts going south, their finger prints are on it from the beginning. If you were an AZ hunter, you would suddenly be very interested in what happens in UT
Put yourself in the shoes of the AK hunters who thought things were going pretty well for the most part. Along comes SFW, bragging that they planted one of their own as the Director of AK G&F, causing the existing director to be relegated to some outpost, for nothing more than being outside the political friends of SFW.
The person who is now the AK Director has no qualifications, no experience, and lots of friends in UT. He eventually resigns under charges of illegal hunting and outfitting, but not before dismantling many years of work in AK G&F. As his last parting gift, he sends 4 of the 11 Governor’s tags to UT for his friends at SFW to auction, collecting their 10% commission, plus reasonable administrative fees. Do you now see why the AK guys are keeping an eye on UT?
Do you see why the WY guys are keeping and eye on SFW, when SFW came forward with a proposal to give the WY outfitting industry a special tag allocation?
Do you see why out of state hunters are concerned about the UT model and its funding source, a funding source, unique to the entire country, and by most all perspectives, a complete wipe out of the Public Trust Doctrine.
That is an honest answer to what I think you asked as an honest question.
I am sure to some, it seems biased, as they are vested in SFW and inclined to agree with their leaders in times of dispute about what really went down. Everything in that answer above is fully supported by documents. Everything there has already been proven on this forum, our forum, or other forums. None of that has been denied by SFW, just rationalized or swept under the rug.
You ask how I can support RMEF or MDF. Pretty easy. I look at the people involved and the work they are doing. They are people who have demonstrated trust and commitment to the cause. They are working toward a goal that is shared by the common hunter who makes up most of their membership.
I also look at what they are NOT doing. What a group is NOT doing, is sometimes is more telling about the leadership and the organization.
RMEF and MDF are NOT going to other states, trying to replicate the UT model. They are NOT going to other states and trying to get their own people planted as Directors and Commissioners. They are NOT going to Washington DC, trying to kill the only feasible progress that could come in the wolf issue. They are NOT ……
Point is, some groups earn your trust by their actions. Other groups earn your distrust by their actions.
Personally, I watched the UT deal from afar for a few years, kind of curious as to how it would work and eventually shake out. Though we would burn down the Capitol building in MT if ever we went to a UT-type tag deal, I was curious as to what the UT hunters saw in it.
Once the UT model started easing across the western landscape, I started paying a lot more attention. When UT hunters could get no accounting it was concerning that a classic public resource takeover might be underway. As the large numbers of UT hunters made demands on SFW for accounting, yet none was provided, it became obvious that some fire existed among all the smoke.
I am not vested in abolishing SFW, as you claim. I do understand why you feel that way.
I am interested seeing the influence of the UT model not make it to my home state, or to the states of hunters who believe in the NA Model.
I am interested in giving information and voice to UT hunters who want to see some balance restored to the way their trustees allocate wildlife opportunity in UT.
I am interested in speaking up on behalf of the thousands of self-guided hunters who we have targeted as the audience for our TV show and our talk forum.
I suspect most the volunteers of SFW are like volunteers of most group – committed to betterment of the species or the state of hunting. That is a commonality among the volunteers of all groups. When I look at the direction or means by which the SFW leaders want to accomplish their objectives, I don’t see much commonality with other groups.
If the majority of UT hunters want to continue with the dark secret model of no accounting or transparency, then fine. Knock yourselves out. I sure see a lot of UT hunters who do not like it, and given how the skids are greased within the political system and the Wildlife Board, change will be difficult. My effort in a debate is to show there is information and historical principles that support those wanting change in UT, or change in other states where SFW ideas are popping up.
Hopefully that gives you an honest answer of why others from outside UT are watching the UT/SFW model; how we can support other groups who are not engaging in the same antics as SFW; and why it is not hypocrisy to support those groups.
As far as RMEF and MDF involved in auction/raffle tags, I know what little RMEF makes on auction tags - Almost nothing. RMEF is complete and open with their accounting on these tags. I am not familiar with the MDF accounting, but will be making an inquiry as we near the debate. I have asked for the SFW accounting and will see if I get it. I see no hypocrisy in supporting those groups with a different history of how they use their funds than does SFW. I have confirmed what little RMEF makes on them and the RMEF policy applied when agreeing to auction a tag.
Gotta go. Need to disinherit the Federal Treasury a little more. Will be glad to answer any other questions directed at me, as I find time between now and the filing deadline of the 17th.
Thanks for being forthright about your perspective and where your question comes from.
"Hunt when you can - You're gonna' run out of health before you run out of money!" "
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